Thill-coupling.



No. 7|4,634. Patented Nov. 25, I902.

w. A. BUCHANAN.

THILL CUUPLING.

:Applicaticn filed Aug. 26. 1002 (Nb Model.)

UNITED STATES WATENT FFICE.

. WILLIAM ALEN BUCHANAN, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE-SIXTHS TO S. WESTRAY BATTLE, LOUIS M. BOURNE, AND BIRT L. PRICE, OF BUN COMBE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

TH ILL COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,634, dated November 25, 1902. Application filed August 26,1902. Serial No. 121,102. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, -WILLIAM ALEN, BUCH- ANAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill- Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled ID in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to thin-couplings, and

more particularly to that class of couplings I having the thill divided into two parts hinged at their rear ends and provided with a securing device.

The object of my invention is to provide a thill-coupling of this character simple in construction and composed of a minimum number of parts, thereby reducing the wear to the coupling alone and not upon frail and 2 5 delicate clamping devices.

My thill-coupling is composed of the following pieces: the thill-iron, whichis integral with and forms the upper section of the divided thill-eye, the lower movable section 1 3o pivoted bya transverse pin to the upper section, and a turn-button set verticallyin the thill-iron and kept in position by a groove in the lower section and a strap passing through said button. My invention consists in the particular arrangements of the two sections, and particularly in the position of the thill-eye. My invention also consists in certain other novel features of construction and in combination of parts, which will be first fully described and afterward specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a' perspective View of my invention in an operative position. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the coupling, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a detail of the thill-pin. Fig. 4 is a detail of the slotted portion of the lower section. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the coupling in an open position. Fig. 6 is an enlarged 5o fragmentary View of a modification.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, in which- 1 is the thill-iron, pivoted to the lower 5 5 movable section 2 by pin 3. 4 is the thilleye, formed between the thill-iron and lower section, and it will be noticed that the thilleye 4 is above the pivotal point of the lower section, whereby all the strain is thrown on the thill-iron when the coupling is in operation.

The greatest diameter of the thill-eye 4 is at the center thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines in Fig. 5, so as to conform to the thill-pin 5, or in other words the interior of the thill-eyeis concaved.

The thill-iron is provided with a turn-button 6, which passes through a transverse slot '7 in the lower section 2, which section is also provided with alongitudinal groove 9, bisecting said slot. The button 6 is provided with a knife-edge 10, which registers with the groove 9. The forward portion of the lower section forms a spring-strap, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, always causes the two sections to tightly engage the thill-pin and take up wear.

In Fig. 6 the two sections are shown to contact at 11, which gives additional elasticity to the forward portion or spring-strap. In this construction the elasticity of the springstrap would hold the turn-button in the groove without any additional means. However, in the otherconstruction and in this, if deemed necessary, a small strap 12, secured to the coupling or shaft, is run through the slot 13 in the turn-button.

This coupling is applicable to shafts and pole and can be changed in the quickest 0 possible time.

The operation is obvious. In order to detach the shafts the turn-button is turned to coincide with the slot in the lower section, which releases the same and allows the shafts to be lifted out.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire'to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a thin-coupling, the combination of the upper and lower secti0ns, of the thiIl-eye arranged to form a contact at 11, thus form- I ing aspring-strap of thelower section of the coupling, in combination with the fastening device, substantially as described.

2. In a thin-coupling, the combination of the upper and lowersections, of the thill-eye 

